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Add a Subwoofer to my Vandersteen 1ce s or replace with Revel Concerta2 F36

Hey Audiogon community,
    Perhaps you guy can help here. I have a VPI Scout with Sound Smith Zephyr III Cartridge running into a Musical Fidelity v-LPS that runs into a NAD VISO 5 Receiver and back out to a pair of Vandersteen 1ce's. Since I recently bought the Zephyr III, it revealed some inadequacies, and I am in upgrade mode. My audio advisor from Brooks Berdan suggested I start with the speakers. Mind you, I Love my Vandersteens but wish there was deeper bass realism. I have been listening to the Revel concerta2 F36  recently with a Cronus Magnus powering them via some entry level Oracle turntable. I like the F36 a lot, and feel like they would give me more full range dynamics especially on the low end. I am looking at upgrading to the Rogue Cronus Magnus soon as well. And am hoping that upgrading to the F36 is the smarter choice than adding a sub that would seamlessly integrate. Any thought would be appreciated. Thank you.
voodooman13
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
The link from John Rutan was from the dealer I had back in Wisconsin before I moved to Arizona. I listened to a pair of Vandersteen Treo Ct's, {my current pair of loudspeakers} with a 2Wq sub. Jon Spelt, set up the system for my audition. All I can tell you is that little system produced some of the finest sound I have ever heard in my 45 years of being an audiophile and I have listened to many a mega buck system. The Vandersteen 2Ce Sig. along with the 2Wq sub would be incredible bang for the buck. Also the Rogue is a good choice. I have their hybrid Pharaoh integrated {185 watts/channel) which is a fine amp.
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@mr_m Do you have 2wqs mated with your Treo CTs?

mr_m
1,900 posts
 
I just ordered a new 2Wq (1) for now due to financial constraints. It should be here in about 10 days. I will order another one and the premium crossovers with batteries as funds permit. I am currently retired and have a new financial boss. My wife......lol
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
I know Ctsooner will protest, but I know a salesman at the place I bought my Treo CT's from, and he feels the Treo Ct with a pair of 2Wq's will out-perform a pair of Quattro's. This arrangement with subs gives you (8) eight inch woofers compared with the Quattro's (4) eight inch woofers. For what it is worth. The Quattro has frequency equalization whereas the subs give you the best placement. Pick your poison....
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Not protesting at all.  I do buy into 4 subs being better than 2 for any bass problems, but the EQ that Richard uses is special and that's one reason we love the Quatro's (well some of us).  It all depends on the room I think.  My Treo's weren't CT's, so the Quatro upgrade made sense, plus my wife would never have said 'oh sure, you SHOULD have two more large boxes in the room", lol.....  

I will say that adding two of the 2w's to any speaker may be the best quality bass you can buy under 10k.  It's not the deepest or earth shattering bass that some of the boxes make, but it's moves a ton of air still and has the best quality of bass I've heard anywhere near it's price range.  To add that bass to a pair of 2's.....wow.
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